Jaromir Jagr has more than just a guaranteed place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is already ranked among the upper echelon of stars who’ve played the game, alongside names like Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.

So why would Jagr, 41, risk tarnishing his reputation at this late stage of his career by playing too long? And why would he do it on a Devils team few believe is capable of winning a Stanley Cup, which would be his third?

"I don’t care about reputation. I play because I love the game," Jagr said Tuesday. "I know people say, ‘Finish on top.’ I don’t agree with that. I’m different. I never played the game because I wanted to be one of the greats. I play because I love this game.

"Even though I’m not what I used to be, I still love the game. I have the same love I had before. People get old. They still love their lives, but they cannot do what they used to do. Are you going to kill yourself? That’s me. I’m going to fight to the end. There are probably a lot of people who don’t agree with me, but I don’t really care.

"Why should I stop doing something that I love? Because I’m going to hurt my name? So what? Are they going to criticize me that I can’t play anymore, that I’m awful? Who cares? As long as I’m giving my best and somebody appreciates my work, I’m happy with that. I’m kind of different that way. You learn to put your ego aside."

Jagr plans to begin his 20th NHL season when the Devils face the Penguins Thursday night at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

Bothered by a groin/hip injury for most of the preseason, he did not play in any exhibition games. But he has recovered, and Devils coach Pete DeBoer has used him on the first power play unit and at right wing on a line with Travis Zajac and Adam Henrique.

"I’m pain-free, so that’s a good sign. It’s going to be my first game, if I play," Jagr said.

He ranks eighth on the all-time NHL scoring list with 1,688 points. Lemieux is just ahead with 1,723.

"Obviously you can see, just watching him, the world-class skill and the plays he’s able to make," DeBoer said. "For me it’s just finding that balance where we allow him and afford him the opportunity to be creative at the right times, and at the same time he gets a good handle on our expectations system-wise and fitting in that way."

Jagr said he won’t set personal goals, but he senses the Devils are a better team than prognosticators have indicated.

"I don’t put any goals on myself anymore. When I was younger it was different. When I came back from Russia (after playing there from 2009-11) I kind of had a different role than before, so I changed," he said.

"For the team, I think we might surprise a lot of people. Nobody really gives us any chance. Maybe that will be an advantage for us."

Pittsburgh, of course, is where Jagr won his two Cups — in his first two NHL seasons. It is also where he learned what it takes by playing alongside Lemieux.

"The biggest thing for me is I had a chance to learn from the best. There are not that many guys who have that opportunity to learn from the best," Jagr said. "Even though I had talent, if you don’t have a teacher you can follow, it’s not going to develop. Talent is one thing. You need somebody to show you the way. Playing with Mario was the best thing that ever happened to me.

"I had a chance to see him every day — how he practiced, how he played. Other guys from other teams saw him twice a year. I played with Mario and Gretzky. Even though they were different and had that talent, I think they were blessed."

Another legend — Martin Brodeur — is happy Jagr was signed to a one-year, $2 million contract that includes a $2 million bonus for 40 games played.

"It’s fun. It gives us such a different dimension, especially on the power play with his patience, skill, strength and size," Brodeur said. "It will be interesting to see how he’ll fit with our players. But for me, he’s a guy I’ve played against all my life. We got drafted in the same year. It’s fun to have a guy like that around. He’s going to be a presence, a guy that can change a hockey game by making one big play. Like all of us old guys, he just has to stay healthy."